Landing on the Seafloor: Piloting a New Camera System

Video surveys offer a cost-effective, non-extractive means for collecting valuable data on fish and habitats. Like all scientific research tools, there are questions about potential biases. Results from a video lander pilot study conducted by the ODFW Marine Reserve Program looks into these questions and has some surprising results. Read More

I’ve Seen This Fish Before

Catching two tagged fish doesn’t seem like a big deal, but it is actually rare to occur in wild populations. Why? The odds of catching a previously tagged fish are extremely small as there are literally, many fish in the sea. Read More

No Floaters

Barotrauma is caused by gasses expanding in a fish’s swim bladder. When the fish is reeled to the surface from deep ocean depths, the swim bladder begins to expand as the surrounding water pressure decreases. Fish that have experienced barotrauma aren’t always able to swim back down on their own, causing them to ‘float’ on the surface. Here’s what you can do to help… Read More

Meet the Deacon Rockfish

How do you discover a new species after millions of people, including fishermen and researchers, have seen these fish off of Oregon for many years? Blue Rockfish, common to Oregon’s rocky reefs and regularly observed in Oregon’s marine reserves, are actually two entirely distinct species. Read More

Scientific Divers to Survey Otter Rock Marine Reserve

Volunteer scientific divers are practicing their survey skills in Otter Rock Marine Reserve this week. Scientific divers play a integral role in conducting ecological research in Oregon’s Marine Reserves. We use diver based underwater visual census methods to identify and count macroalgal, invertebrate, and fish communities. Read More